FUN88
 | |
| Available in | Multilingual |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Area served | Asia Pacific region / Europe / South America |
| Owner | Welton Holdings Limited |
| Industry | Online gambling |
| Services | Online betting and gaming |
| URL | en.fun88.com |
FUN88 is an online betting site. The company was founded in China and currently operates in Asia, Europe and South America. In the UK, FUN88 operates through a white-label partnership with TGP Europe and is regulated by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain.[1]
History
[edit]FUN88 was founded in June, 2009. The company operated first in Asia before expanding to Europe in the same year, establishing a headquarters in the Isle of Man along with several other betting outifts.[2] FUN88 then gained exposure through a number of Premier League sponsorship deals, firstly with Burnley FC and then Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Sponsorship
[edit]FUN88 has partnered with athletes and clubs in recent years, most notably the late Kobe Bryant, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.[3][4][5] FUN88's first major European sponsorship deal was with Premier League side Burnley FC between 2010 and 2012.[6] They were then announced as Tottenham Hotspur's Asian Betting and Gaming Partner in 2014, a partnership that has lasted for almost a decade.[7] In 2017, Newcastle United unveiled FUN88 as their front-of-shirt sponsor in a long-term deal.[4] In April 2023, Premier League clubs agreed to phase out front-of-shirt betting sponsors with a deadline set at the beginning of 2026/27 season.[8] The Athletic reported that sleeve-sponsorship and perimeter advertising will still be prominent.[9] In June 2023, it was confirmed that FUN88 would no longer sponsor Newcastle United on the front-of-shirt and they entered into a long-term deal as Asian betting partner.[10][11] The deal was widely-reported to have been agreed in order for Newcastle to pursue a more lucrative sponsor. The club confirmed a record deal with Saudi Arabian events company, Sela, worth £25m per year shortly afterwards.[12]
Fun88 India partnered with Dabang Delhi KC as Title sponsor.[13][14]
FUN88 brand ambassadors have included Iker Casillas, Steve Nash, Daren Sammy, Dale Steyn and Tony Parker.[15][16][17][18][19]
References
[edit]- ^ "TGP Europe Limited". Gambling Commission. Gambling Commission. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Fun88 Operations Launched from Isle of Man". Gaming Intelligence. Gaming Intelligence. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Gallagher, Erin-Marie (2019-06-25). "Kobe Bryant named brand ambassador for Fun88". Insider Sport. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ a b "FUN88 becomes Newcastle United shirt sponsor". Newcastle United. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Club extends partnership with FUN88". Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Burnley clinch multi-million-pound shirt deal". Lancashire Telegraph. Lancashire Telegraph. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "FUN88 returns as Club's Asian and Latin American betting partner". Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur. 2016-08-10.
- ^ "Premier League clubs agree to withdraw gambling sponsorships on front of shirts". Sky Sports. Sky Sports. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Buckingham, Philip (2023-07-11). "Premier League clubs struggle to resist one last payday from gambling firms". The Athletic. The Athletic. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "FUN88 become official Asian betting partner". Newcastle United. Newcastle United. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Cunningham, Euan (2023-06-06). "Fun88 dropped as Newcastle shirt sponsor but retains association with club". Sportcal. Sportcal. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Matchett, Karl (2023-06-09). "Newcastle agree massive new shirt sponsor with Saudi-based firm". The Independent. Daily Mail. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Bureau, Adgully (2023-12-02). "Dabang Delhi KC onboards Fun88News as strategic partner for Pro Kabaddi 10 - Adgully.com". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Nambiar, Rahul (2023-12-06). "PKL 2023-24: Dabang Delhi KC onboard Fun88 News as title partner". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ Scurr, Dominic (2023-10-02). "Three-time Champions League winner spotted at St James' Park after £25m Newcastle United agreement". Shields Gazette. Shields Gazette. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Giongno, Mark (2016-07-06). "2 years after retirement, Steve Nash misses the game". Inquirer. Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Orme-Claye, Ted (2021-07-08). "Fun88 links with Daren Sammy to strengthen sports marketing". SBC News. SBC News. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "Fun88 India celebrates third anniversary by onboarding Dale Steyn as ambassador - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ Sale, Jessica (2023-10-27). "FUN88 nets NBA's Tony Parker as brand ambassador". SBC News. SBC News.